Friday, March 31, 2017

Oh Boy !!!! Talk about March going out like a lion !!!!! Whew !! Just as I got into bed last night the bottom dropped out and the rain poured down for hours without slacking. The rain was making so much noise on the metal roof I couldn't even hear the thunder but the lightening continuously flashed daylight across the bedroom. The last time I looked at the clock it was almost 2am. One of three things must have happened after that, either the storm stopped, I got used to the noise and went to sleep anyway or I just didn't look at the clock anymore.
Again about 5am I was awakened by a loud clap of thunder and I heard more pouring rain.
Hubbie left for work at 5:30, he called to say the bottoms were flooded but he saw all the cattle in the barn thankfully.
When I got up a couple hours later the sun was shining but there was water everywhere. This is a major flood from overnight rain that left 3.9 inches in the gauge here and apparently because of the amount of flooding it rained more up the creek with no prior warning at all that we could get this much water !!!

Thankful that Ceyenne and all the cattle are safely gazing out over the floodwaters.

After chores and breakfast I spent the morning unstopping ditches along the driveway in advance of the next unexpected rush of rain water.

This guy looks confused as he got left high and dry with the receding flood waters.

The Robins were feasting on the worms that this over saturated ground were producing.

The first Azalea was ablaze after the rain in the warm upper 60's temps of today.

I came back inside at lunch time and had a salad with some turkey breast.
I started my baking for the day, I baked 6 caramel, 2 chocolate and 2 pans of brownies. We are having free ice cream tomorrow to welcome in April which begins our spring / summer season so I don't know what business will be like but I have an idea with mid 40's temps predicted for tonight there might not be any early ice cream takers !
After I finished baking I got out all my Easter decorations and changed things to a more purple / spring looking mode.
Finally with my knees and back aching from all my activities today I took a break and watched the news.
As I did chores this evening I checked in on the red Silkie and happily she has one little chick to keep her company now. Hopefully more of the eggs will hatch in the coming days.

I started this lady setting yesterday on some Araucana eggs to continue my green egg layers.

I also moved another black setting silkie into another brooder box tonight to set the Buff orpington eggs from Re's hens but it will take her a day or so to settle down after the move.
I spent the evening icing cakes and getting ready for market tomorrow.
The month of March this year has been a blessed month for all our family. #1 son turned 34 on the first day and he and Tif are busily making wedding and honeymoon plans for their up coming wedding.
March came in like a lamb as the first day was a beautiful sunny and warm day but the March wind returned that evening .
We watched a lot of basketball this month with g-son's games on Saturdays and the college season winding down with our favorite team UNC still playing and headed for the final four games this weekend.
I attended market on Thursdays as well as Saturdays and had a pretty good month of sales thanks to the nice weather.
Hubbie and I made an early flea market trip on the 8th and were pleasantly surprised at all the folks who were already set up for business.
Winter storm Stella roared into our area on the 12th leaving 3 inches of snow on a Sunday morning but it was gone by that afternoon as temperatures rose.
Another temperature drop on the 15th gave us a new record cold temp for that day of 32 degrees for the high for the day.
On the 26th of the month daughter turned 32 and is doing very well in her pregnancy as she continues to work on the nursery.
Two other birthdays of the month were Re - 31 and EL- 4 who both celebrated in Ohio where they still await the judges custody decision.
#1 son has spent the month working in the upstairs of his house where he is making g-son a room of his own.
We have had three overnight thunder storms which is rare for this early in the season as it is usually too cool at night for storms. But a continued 13 month above normal temps range for this month brought on the storms.

This March was just barely a continuation at .3 above normal !!

On this last day of March also the "T", Theseus, winter storm was named as the northeast gets pounded with snow and rain.

Good Bye to a wonderfully blessed month and looking forward to April and to all the Challenges and Blessings the Lord has in store for me .
God Bless and Good Night.

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Up early to get ready for market on this drizzly cool morning. Hubbie took today off to get daughter's nursery painted for her so it made things go quicker with him here to help today. I stopped by Aa's and put a big waterer in with the chickens I moved over there last night on my way to market and still made it on time.
It is a very slow day with the rain still misting outside all morning . I have 3 different orders for eggs today so when they are picked up I may leave early and get things done in town before the heavier rains get here this afternoon.
So far at noon except for 2 orders for 6 dozen eggs all I have sold is 5 brownies, 1 quarter piece of cake and 1 bread. I have a one egg order for 2 dozen left to be picked up so far.
I had plenty time to get out all my Easter decorations for the booth.

I actually ended up having an okay day as I waited for the last egg customer to pick up her order I sold a full cake and several more baked items.
I left market just before closing time and loaded in a light rain shower. I went to the bank and PO and then the rain caught up with me as I made a stop at Aldi and Walmart for baking supplies and groceries. I was glad I grabbed a light raincoat on the way out the door this morning.
I got home around 4:00 just in front of hubbie who had finished painting at daughters.
We unloaded then watched the news and rested until chore time. We were lucky to get chores done as the heavier rain bands arrived just after we got inside.
I am tired tonight and looking forward to an earlier bedtime. All the pollen is making both hubbie and I have stopped up noses and watery eyes and probably is making us feel tireder than usual as the sinus pressure is affecting our sleep.
It is 9:45 and the rain outside is pouring down. We are hoping not to get the sever storms out of this storm like the last two that have passed through our area about midnight.
G-son was one of the elementary students who raised the flag at his school this morning with the help of a couple ROTC members from North high school. G-son is in the one with the green spider shirt.

Thankful for the blessings of this day and asking God for forgiveness in all my short comings as I struggle along this winding path of righteousness .
God Bless and Good Night.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Woke to a beautiful spring morning. As I breathe in the cool fresh air of this time of year I am humbly grateful to our wonderful creator for the beauty of this season.

After chores, breakfast and devotions I took a nice long walk to just enjoy the morning.
D-in-love called and said she took g-daughter to the doctor this morning and she does have an ear infection . Probably from all the days of snotty nose !!
Hubbie took 1/2 day off this afternoon so we can get the garden ready for planting before all the heavy rains get here that are predicted for tomorrow and Friday.
We had lunch then headed up to the garden. First we pulled up all the remaining Kale greens, Turnips and some clumps of grass that had already started growing and fed all of it to the chickens. They love fresh green things.
Then we hooked the plow up and hubbie plowed slow and deep this year. The soil was more moist than I thought it would be.

Then he switched to the disk to smooth the furrows left by the plow.

We aren't going to plant anything today with all the rain predicted but now we are ready for the next round of dry weather to get our early garden planted.
While he was working on this I cleaned all my chicken houses out. It was past time in some of them but in cold temps I try to leave them a bit dirty to create more heat for the hens so they continue to lay eggs better.
The houses look so much better with their spring cleaning !!!

I am trying an old cowboy trick out to see if I can keep the snakes from feasting on my eggs this year.
Cowboys out west at night when they lay down to sleep by their campfires would always take their ropes and encircle themselves to keep snakes from coming to the heat of their fires. Believing that the stiff bristles of the old ropes would deter snakes as the bristles would scratch their tender bellies.
Hopefully my black and rat snakes have tender bellies that they don't want scratched !!!!

I stapled the rope all around the door opening and closed some other openings in the house where we killed 3 large snakes last year !!

After we were finished with these tasks we rested on the front porch for a few minutes until chore time. After chores we loaded up Re's Buff Orpinton rooster and the 1 Buff orpington hen along with a couple Golden Comets and took them back to the lot Aa made at their house. I have more silkie hens wanting to set and I would love to have some more Buff Orpingtons so with them all alone with this rooster for a few days I will put these eggs under some of the setting silkies to see what I get.
We came home and watched Survivor on TV then I figured bills and did the weekly paperwork.
Grateful for the blessing of a beautiful world and the blessings of this day.
God Bless and Good Night

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

A rough night once again last night as the thunder and lightening storms started just as I got into bed. Poor Bernie the 4-legged kid is so terrified I had to hold on to him the entire time and there was definitely no sleeping until these storms passed with all their fireworks and noise.
Thank the Lord we didn't have any damage and also got 8/10ths inch of rain out of it.
7am came exceptionally early after not getting to sleep until around 2am !!
I got g-daughter her breakfast and she ate while I let all the animals out. The sun was a pretty site raising through the trees this morning.

I took g-daughter to play school and then stopped by the laundry and watched some "red neck TV' getting all my rugs and furniture covers washed.

Hubbie helped me load everything last night and after unloading and the loading things back up after they were washed and dried I was already pooped !
I came home and hung out all the rubber backed rugs on the clothesline. Today is going to be a perfect drying day for them.
I had time for a quick cup of green tea and my devotions before it was time to go pick g-daughter up.
She slept on the way home and slept long enough for me to have lunch before she woke up and wanted to play. I tried to get her to eat lunch but she wasn't hungry and only had some banana.
All she wanted to do was go outside !
This is pure joy !!!!

She loves to explore everything around.

And wants to pet the hens.

While we were outside daughter came by to kill some time until her doctor appointment.
After daughter left g-daughter and I went inside and had a snack while we waited for d-in-love to pick her up.
I rested for about 30 minutes until hubbie got home from work. We watched the news then I did chores. While checking on the red silkie and her eggs I heard peeps coming from the eggs where chicks were hatching so I changed out her food and lowered her nest so the chicks can get out and in and she can still sit on the unhatched eggs.
I also cleaned out another brooder box which was neglected last year and put another white silkie hen who is trying to set in there. She wasn't happy about her new abode so I don't know if she will settle down or not . I put a couple green eggs in the nest in there to see if she would go back to setting.
I gathered all the rugs off the clothesline and got everything put away. I discovered that I forgot a couple things this morning that should have been washed so I may make a quick stop next week one day.
Aa came by and picked up a caramel cake to take to his work so Merle Pittillo could take it to the Brigman family from our community that lost a member and the funeral is tomorrow. Stanley Brigman was a good man and he will be missed.
Aa said the judge in the custody case in Ohio of Re's 2 nieces still hasn't made a decision .
Hubbie and I spent a quiet evening tonight and we both are going to bed early tonight to try and catch up on the lost sleep of last night.
Thankful for the strength God gives me each day and for all the other blessings of this day.
God Bless and Good Night

Monday, March 27, 2017

An early wake up call from d-in-love as she brought g-daughter by around 7am. Hubbie got up to meet her but I still couldn't get back to sleep.
After I did the morning chores I had my breakfast and then we all took a ride to Southern States to get chicken feed. I added my first bag of chick starter this time even though no chicks have hatched yet. The red silkie hen has been sitting on a dozen silkie eggs for 21 days today but no signs of hatching yet. I am worried about her because of all the cold nights she had to set through.
Back home with all the feed put up hubbie and g-daughter stayed outside to swing awhile and I came inside to get the weekly laundry started.
We had lunch at noon but g-daughter would only eat a couple slices of cheese. She is not feeling her usual self today for some reason.
After lunch I striped our bed and took the sheets downstairs to add to the laundry list for today.
Hubbie got g-daughter to take a short hour nap this afternoon so I did some work downstairs to keep the noise down.
After she woke up she felt much better and was ready to play. We sat out in the sunroom and watched a shower of rain move in and g-daughter enjoyed playing.

These boots are way too big but she loved wearing them.

After d-in-love picked her up hubbie and I watched the news then did chores a bit early to beat the rain that was headed toward our area.
I emptied about 1/10ths inch from the shower last night and the shower this afternoon so we haven't gotten much rain at all yet from this front that is moving through.
These two probably don't have much more time together as Dolly is having another bout with her stomach and is passing a lot of blood.

The vet doesn't want to do any testing on her in her fragile and aged condition so we are watching her to make sure she doesn't get in any pain and doesn't get too uncomfortable. If she does we will have to have her put down but so far she acts fine and even has eaten quite a bit today without passing much blood. We are just leaving it up to God to take her when He thinks best. I know Bernie will miss her and with his enlarged heart we were not expecting Dolly would be the first to go and who knows she may come out of this and out live him , only God knows!
After chores we had supper then I worked on getting the 20th volume of my blog book downloaded and sent to the publisher. It is the last 3 months of 2016. I am thinking I will try to get four months in the next volume .
I am writing this post on my lap top while the book downloads on my desktop, seems it is taking forever !!!
Thankful for all the blessings of this day and looking forward to tomorrow to see where God leads me.
God Bless and Good Night.

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Rain pounding on the metal roof woke me this morning. As I turned to look at the alarm clock and saw only blinking numbers I was reminded that the power had been off during the night for the power company to make some updates.
The rain didn't last long and it had stopped by the time I went out to do the morning chores. I dumped only 4/10ths inch of rain from the gauge so an all night overnight rain that was forecast must have turned into the hard shower this morning.
We got ready and headed out to church. As we drove down the driveway we spotted a newly born calf with mama watching over it closely .

I was a greeter at church this morning to begin the service. The sermon continued in Mathew 5 today.After church we had everyone here except Tif who was working for grilled pork chops, mashed potatoes, green beans,corn, glazed carrots, biscuits for a birthday lunch for daughter who turns 32 today !!
Wow !!! 32 years ago this sweet baby made me a happy mama after I had two boys already I was sure ready for a little girl.

She was a special addition to our family all along as she started school.......

And graduated high school with honors.........

Graduated from UNCA with a Bachelor of Communications degree.......

Worked in TV for several years until finding her true calling as a high school teacher and coach.

Last year she entered into another most important phase of her life as she married Josh in a truly "fairy tale" wedding.

And here she is today about to embark on another very important phase of life called motherhood as she welcomes a little girl into the world in June.

Happy Birthday daughter dear, we are so proud of you and wish you all the best that life has to give.
A rousing game of baseball started on this nice mid 60's but cloudy day between g-son and his uncle ,#2 son.

And this is a new pouting position for a "tooth cutting" unhappy g-daughter !!!

After everyone left after a nice visit hubbie and I settled in for some March madness basketball games as we watched South Carolina defeat Florida for their first ever final four appearance and then watched UNC defeat Kentucky to make their 20th final four appearance.
The clouds parted just for the sun to peak out for a few minutes just before sunset this evening.

Just after dark tonight the rain poured down again for the first time since early this morning.
Thankful tonight for a very blessed day and for the love of the family and friends that He has put into my life.
God Bless and Good Night

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Had a rough night of trying to sleep last night. First with my stomach bothering me I took an Alka Selter then went to bed. I sat up a couple times trying to burb but couldn't and I just felt like I needed to for a long time that kept me awake. I must have dozed off somewhere between 2am and 5am because Dolly the 4-legged kid woke me at 5 barking. Hubbie got up and took her outside but that didn't seem to help whatever her problem was and she continued to bark for at least 30 minutes before finally settling down, then it took me awhile to get back to sleep before the 8am alarm.
I noticed the whites of my eyes are red from lack of sleep this morning as I got ready for market.
Market was pretty good today with the warming weather the shoppers seem to be increasing weekly.
After market I stopped at Aldi for some groceries that I forgot to get Thursday .
I made it home just before 3:00 and hubbie helped me unload all the things and put them away. He had done our shopping at Sam's Club on his way home then had taken a caramel cake I left on the table up to church for the after funeral lunch for one of our deceased church members family, Nettie Turpin.
Hubbie also helped #1 son carry 10 more sheets of sheet rock up stairs in his house.
He was ready for a rest when we got things put away.
Daughter came by for a nice visit and brought me a new swing that she had gotten free that needed the motor worked on. Even if the motor never works it will make a nice sleeping place for g-daughter #2.
After chores hubbie and I relaxed and watched some of the March madness games that were on tonight.
On the news tonight this map shows our area in the slight risk for severe weather tomorrow. I remember the last time we were in the slight risk area we really got hammered by high winds , rain, thunder and lightening so we wonder what tomorrow will bring ???

I am so tired tonight ,it is just 10:00 and I feel like I could sleep for days so I am going to soak in a hot bath and crawl into bed to hopefully make up for the lost sleep of last night.
The power company is shutting our power off from midnight to 4am overnight to do some work so we are unplugging things in case of a power surge and looking forward to a quiet night.
Thankful for the wonderful love of our precious Savior and for the blessings of this day.
God Bless and Good Night.

Friday, March 24, 2017

This is a typical busy Friday morning beginning with chores, breakfast and devotions. I traded my walk time this morning in for a walk later today so I could start my baking earlier to finish before a 1:00 cake delivery time.
I baked 6 caramel, 3 chocolate, 2 pound and 1 blackberry wine cake. Funny story, I took the 2 pound cakes out of my upper oven and put in 2 pans of brownies. I set the timer for 30 minutes as usual and sat down to have a quick lunch. In just a few minutes I started smelling smoke and when I looked in the oven with the brownies they were burnt to a crisp and smoking almost on fire !!!!! Yikes ! I have no idea why this oven heated so high and fast when I had just removed 2 perfectly cooked pound cakes from it and didn't change the 350 degree temp ??????
The chickens enjoyed the burned brownies and I had to wait for the bottom oven to reheat to cook another pan of brownies.
I will have to certainly watch the top oven next time I put anything in there to see what is going on.
I made it to my cake delivery at 1:00 and waited for 30 minutes on the customer who took a wrong turn on her way from Greenville,SC.
As I drove home I stopped at a yard sale on the way but didn't find anything I needed. It was a benefit sale and they had some nice clothing donated to sell but all the size tags had been cut out of the clothing ???? I hated to leave without spending anything so I picked up a set of Christmas placemats and napkins for $3 that I certainly don't need but it relieved my guilty feeling.
Back home I washed some dishes then took that delayed from the morning walk around the farm.
I came inside fixed a hot cup of green tea and relaxed with the 4-legged kids until hubbie came in from work.
We watched the early news and then did the chores. Our area is still in the severe drought as the growing season gets closer.

The forecast is for rain this weekend maybe even as much as an inch for our area, guess we'll wait and see.

We settled in for an evening of March madness as our UNC Tarheels defeated Butler to move into the elite eight.
I started icing my cakes after the game and didn't finish until almost midnight !
Thankful for another beautiful day and the undeserved blessings that God showers down.
God Bless and Good night.

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Market day Thursday and I'm up and at it early today getting things done getting on my way. Made it on time and got unloaded and set up before any customers came in.
I only have one order for 4 dozen eggs today so this might be a slow day.
As I chatted with friends and fellow vendors I did sell a few things that I am very thankful for so it wasn't a total wash out day.
After market I ran the regular errands, made a stop at Steinmart to use my $10 reward certificate I had . The certificate expired on the 31st of this month and as I walked through the store I thought there was not a single thing I actually needed in there. I made my way through the sock section and then spotted some hard insoles that would be perfect for sandals this summer so I gt those and checked out.
I went to Ingles to do the rest of my shopping and then headed home. On not many days can I do all the baking supply and grocery shopping at one stop. Hopefully I won't discover something missing when I start baking tomorrow !!
After I got unloaded and got things all put away I sat down in the quiet house with a cup of hot green tea and enjoyed the restful silence.
Hubbie came in from work and turned the TV on for the news.
We did chores and then had a nice visit from #1 son and the kids while d-in-love was at music practice at church.
Hubbie and I spent the evening watching some March madness and then took early bedtimes.
To finish up the decade pics for the month this is all the faces of g-son at 5 moths old in March 2007.

He was surely a happy little boy !!!!
I am grateful to God tonight for the blessings of this day and for loving me unconditionaly.
God Bless and Good Night.

Visit the story of How I Came to Be!

GOD LOVING, COUNTRY LIVING WIFE ,MOTHER AND NENA

About Me

Hello,nice to meet you! I am a 63 year old mother of 3 grown children,ages 35,34, 32 and 1 grandson age 11 , 1 grand daughter age 2 years and 1 granddaughter 4 months old . I live in the NC mountains on a small farm where we used to raise beef cattle but now rent most of it to a younger generation of cattlemen. I have a craft and baking business and am a member of a local co-op market where I sell my goods and goodies.I also have been an Avon lady for 15 years. I also keep the grandchildren several days each week to help out their mom and dad while they work. I love gardening,bird watching and all of God's creations in nature. I love my Lord and strive everyday to please Him in all that I do.
I started this blog so the future generations would have a glimpse into how my life was and how I felt about life in general. Hop on and enjoy the journey.